Removal op radioactive contamination prom a
nuclear reactor coolant

ABSTRACT

A SYSTEM FOR REMOVING RADIOACTIVE FISSION PRODUCTS FROM A LIQUID METAL REACOR COOLANT. ISOTOPIC DILUENTS AND REACTING COMPOUNDS ARE ADDED TO HOT LIQUID SODIUM. THE REACTANTS ISOTOPICALLY EXCHANGE OR CHEMICALLY REACT WITH THE FISSION PRODUCTS AND ARE PRECIPITATED OUT OF SOLUTION IN A FIRST COLD TRAP. WHEN THE SUPPLY OF REACTANTS IS EXHAUSTED, THE FLOW IS REVERSED, THE FIRST TRAP THEN FUNCTIONS TO SUPPLY THE REACTANTS AND THE PRICIPITATION OCCURS IN A SECOND COLD TRAP. THE PROCESS OPERATES CONTINUOUSLY AND REVERSIBLY.

DEFENSIVE PUBLICATION UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Published at the request or the applicant or owner in accordance with the Notice of Dec. 16, 1969, 869 0.6. 881. The tracts 01 Defensive Publication applications are identified by distinctly numbered series and are arranged chronologically. heading of each abstract indicates the number of pages or specification, including claims and sheets or drawings contained l the application as originally flied. The flies of these applications are available to the public for inspection and reproduction may be purchased for 80 cents a sheet.

Defensive Publication applications have not been examined as to the merits or alleged invention. The Patent Oflice makes no assertion as to the novelty ot the disclosed subject matter.

PUBLISHED APRIL 16, 1974 REMOVAL OF RADIOACTIVE CONTAMINATION FROM A NUCLEAR REACTOR COOLANT Martin H. Cooper, Monroeville, Pa., assignor to Westinghouse Electric Corporation, Pittsburgh, Pa.

Filed Sept. 28, 1972, Ser. No. 293,238 Int. Cl. G21c 19/32 US. Cl. 176-37 2 Sheets Drawing. 14 Pages Specification A system for removing radioactive fission products from a liquid metal reactor coolant. Isotopic diluents and reacting compounds are added to hot liquid sodium. The reactants isotopically exchange or chemically react with the fission products and are precipitated out of solution in a first cold trap. When the supply of reactants is exhausted, the flow is reversed; the first trap then functions to supply the reactants and the precipitation occurs in a second cold trap. The process operates continuously and reversibly.

COOPER REMOVAL OF RADIOACTIVE CONTAMINATION FROM A April 16," 1974 NUCLEAR REACTOR COOLANT 1 Filed Sept. 28, 1972 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 

